Electric flasher device



Nov. 20, 1923. 1,'s92,292

W. DUBILIER ELECTRIC 'FLASHER DEVICE Filed Oct. 25, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l IHVEHTDIT BY W i m .Dl/biZ/er 0. ETTORNEEY Nov. 20, 1928. a 1,692,292

W. DUBILIER ELECTRIC FLASHER DEVICE Filed Oct. 25, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- WILLIAM DUBILIER, or NEW Roonnntn, NEW YORK, A'ssmNoR T0 RAnIo PATENTS CORPORATION, or new YORK, n.1, A ooRroRA'rIoN on NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC FLASHER DEVICE.

Application filed October 25, 1926. Serial No. 144,011.

This invention relates to improvements in controlling devices, especially controlling devices of the flasher type as described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 134,926, Sept. 11, 1926. 1

An object of this invention is to provide a flasher of simplified structure permitting convenient assembly and eliminating all need for riveting or otherwise joining working parts together. v

The nature of the invention is set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings, which show a form in which my invention can be embodied, but the disclosure is illustrative only, and I may change the details of construction without departing from the principle of the invention or exceeding the scope and meaning of the terms of the appended claims.

On the drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse section of a device according to my invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of one ofthe parts of said device. a

Figure 3 is a side -view of the same part.

Figured is a plan view of a thermal element used in said device. I

Figure 5 shows a plan view of the body of the device, which forms an insulating sup port for the members by which the desired operation is eifected. I

Figure 6 is a plan view of an alternative arrangement for. a device according to my invention.

Figure .7 is a cross section of this alternative device along the line 7-7 of Figure 6, and

Figure 8 is a cross section of the device pressions 2. In one of said depressions is mounted a bimetallic thermal element a with l a contact point 5 held in the opening 3; a strip of metal 6 is secured to the bottom of the other depression or recess, and holds in the opening 3 co-operating extension 7. This respectively as illustrated specifically in Figures 2, 3, and 4t. These projections enter corresponding lateral recesses or slots 9 and 10 in the insulating body 1, on each side of the opening .3, at both ends of this opening; see Figure 5. The element 4 and the strip 6 each have moreover a tongue 11 with an extension 12. The object of the tongue 11 is to enga e the caps 8 and make firm contact therewit and the 0b ect of the extension 12 is to wedge in between the cap 8 and the side of the depression 2 and to assure more definitely that a good electrical contact is established. Surrounding the element 4 is a heater wire 13 insulated from the strip by a wrapping 14 of heat resisting material such as asbestos. In Figure 4 the element of bimetallic material 4 is illustrated in a developed form such as it appears, when it is punched out from stock, and made as a stamping. It will be seen that this piece will be bent along the lines 15 in such a way that the part carrying the lateral projections 9 and 10 is at right angles to the body of the element 4 and strip 6 and the tongue 11 parallel to the same, while the.

narrow extension 12 again is at right angles to fit-the side of the depression 2.

In practice. the contacts 5 and 7 will be normally separated but current flowing through the heater member 13 will cause the element 4: to grow warm and bend in such a way that contact 5 goes into engagement with extension 7. One end of the wire 13 is attached to the element i while the other end is wedged under the lower cap 8 in electrical engagement with strip 6 bearing extension 7. Therefore, when the contacts5 an'd7 touch, the wire 13 is short-circuited and the current ceases to flow in it. The cooling of the wire enables the element 4 to resume its original position and separate the contacts.

This process will continue indefinitely, giving the intermittent operation or flashing of the electrical devices in the circuit of this device.

In the alternative arrangement according to Figure 6, the insulating body or base 1 is supplled besides the two depressions 32 and the opening 33 with two round holes 17 and 18 on either side of the first opening and the depression 32 on one side only has an extension 20 which surrounds the hole 17. The element 4 and the strip 6 are mounted in tlfe sides of the opening 33. into corresponding slots. The element 4 has a connecting piece of metal 19 bent as illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8, to fit into the opening 17 and project to the under side of the same.

Over one side of this opening 17 is an insulating cover 21 and the metal cover 22 holds this insulating cover in position. The cover 22 also closes the opening 33 from one side, while an insulating cover 23 covers the same opening from the other side.

In this construction, which may be used for lamp sockets which have two projecting prongs for making contact, one of these prongs will make a connection through the hole 18, while the other prong will make connection to the extension 19 through the heater wire 13 to strip 6, which is in electrical connection with cover 22. The part of cover 22 under the hole 17 will then make connection with the circuit terminal of the lamp base, since it is placed exactl at the point where the prongs should have een. In this way a complete connection will be established through the heater wire 13 and when this wire heats the element 4, the latter will bend to make contact between contact 5 and the corresponding contact 5', thus short-circuiting the heater wire and allowin it to cool. This process will continue inde 'tely, giving the intermittent operation or flashing of the electrical device in the circuit of this device.

It will be seen that the manufacture of this device includes only simple molding operations, punching operations, and assembly of parts, except riveting of the contacts on the element 4 and strip 6 and the winding of wire 14. Thus, a device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, but which gives satisfactory operation in practice, is secured.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new and desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a disk-shaped flasher for an electrical circuit a thermally responsive element, a cooperating member, a heater member, an insulating support for said element and said co operating member, the support having slot-s therein to be engaged b said thermally responsive element and t e co-operatin g member.

2. In a disk-shaped flasher to fit an electrical socket a thermally responsive element, a co-operatin member, a heater member and a formed insulating support for said members and said element, the said insulating support having slots therein, the element and the 00- operating member having projections to enter the slots and bearing contact surfaces to move into and out of enga ement with each other.

3. In a flasher comprising an insulator bod with openings, one of said openings provi ed with slots, a thermally responsive element and a co-operating member engaged by said slots, a contact making cover on one side of said opening, and an extension on said contact making cover to cover one of the other openings.

4. In a flasher for an electrical circuit comprisin an insulator body with openings, one of sai openings provided with slots, a thermally responsive element and a co-operating member engaged by said slots, a contact making cover on one side of said opening, and an extension on said contact making cover to cover one of the other openings, and an electrical connection joined to said thermally responsive element and insulated from said first extension.

5. In a flasher for an electrical circuit comprising an insulator body with openings, one

or an electrical circuit.

of said openings provided with slots, a thersignature.

DUBILIER. 

